AN: Another one…wow, must be on a role.

Chapter Twelve

Kunanai sat up with a gasp, searching the now sunlit field for the soldiers. A second later the after effect of the herbs took affect. She grabbed her head, a throbbing headache coursing through her system. Han gave a low groan, sitting up as well with her head in her hands.

"Come on, Maki's cabin is just over that rise," Kunanai whispered, her voice hoarse as she felt the pollen coat her throat.

She coughed violently, her hand clutching the clothe over her chest. It was hard to breath when the pollen was seemingly trying to choke her. Her headache became worse, her eyes squinting shut in pain. Before she could react, the world went black, all noise dying down to silence. Her last coherent thought was along the lines of sleep.

Flashback

Kunanai tied the black glove onto her arm, glancing into the mirror with only half interest. She wore a red corset top that tied up the back and tight black jeans, her normal silver chain on her hips with the swords nearly invisible from sight as she put her cloak on. It had been 70 years since she had been appointed leader of the Demon Army and somehow she had survived. The quiet knock on her door symbolized the still shy friend, Maki. He was literally the ghost of his father in his actions and life.

"Enter."

It was now her speech to only speak in one or two word sentences. The door opened and he peeked around the corner. She arched her eyebrows expectantly causing him to hurry into the room.

"My lady, I have word from the outside on the deaths caused by our last enemy before their deaths. There has only been one but was only a petty thief."

Kunanai turned, her eyes narrowing, "Name him."

He quivered visibly, "He has but one name. It was Kuronue."

She nodded, waving her hand, "Speak more of this later."

He hurried away from the room relieved. She nearly collapsed against the wall, sliding down to the floor as she felt the grief grip its hands around her heart. Itsonai was dead which meant more than likely her brother was gone as well. She could feel Inari trying to appear in her room but she blocked him. It hurt so bad to even breath with the feeling her heart was being ripped out. She pulled her knees to her chest and bit back a scream, blood slowly dripping from two points on her lips.

The one thing she refused to do was cry. Even if he was gone, nothing would make her cry.

"Shimora, love, are you alright?" a voice called from the other side of the door.

She hurriedly wiped her mouth, suddenly remembering she had promised to visit the people this day and help them rebuild the temple.

"I'm coming," she waited until she was sure the servant had left and was not waiting to walk her through the village.

They were patiently waiting for her. With a growl she flung open her balcony door and jumped over the railing to land easily on her feet in the village square. The villagers were used to this type of entrance so they went about their business trying to attract the newest visitors to their booth. Kunanai nodded calmly to each in turn, moving through the village without being noticed by the customers as her cloak thoroughly covered her. She saw the small group of warriors that had congregated to help rebuild the temple.

"Men, let's get to it," she called, watching the men begin picking up the wooden frames that would outline the temple.

"Shimora, my dear, why did you not allow me entrance to your room this morning?" she whispered, his face hidden from the men around him.

"I was not decent, My Lord."

Lord Inari nodded, scanning the crowd, "Come, I have an important question to ask of you."

Kunanai nodded, following him into a small tavern that served as his office when he was on business in Jantu. He took a seat behind his mahogany desk, motioning for Kunanai to take a seat. She refused, remaining standing though now with her fingertips resting on the desk.

"I have held council with my inner court and they have asked of me one thing. They want you to join us. You have proven yourself worthy of this position. Now, do you accept?" he asked quietly.

She sank down the seat, her eyes wide in surprise and shock.

"But that would mean I would be shone you face," she whispered once she found her voice.

He nodded, his hands fidgeting under the desk while he put forth his calm façade.

She drew in a deep breath and nodded, "I would be honored to become a member of your inner court."

Lord Inari stood, Kunanai following close behind. He reached up and placed his hands on the edge of his hood, slowly pulling it back. Kunanai kept her eyes from widening as she beheld the beauty of Inari that had caused him to hide for so many years. His eyes were a deep gold and radiated at her with such emotion. His hair was long and white, glistening like silk. He had the classic pale skin of the Kitsune.

"Now, my love, you have seen the face of your lord, there is no turning back to be just another Kitsune of Jantu," he whispered moving around the desk.

Kunanai remained frozen to the spot finding herself unable to move under his stare.

"This is what you will get if you choose to have me," he continued, stopping just in front of her. "What do you decide?"

She gasped, feeling his hands lightly touch her hips, his thumbs tracing over the cool flesh. She laid her head on his chest trying to catch her breath. At that moment however the whole world began spinning causing her to cling to Inari to stand upright.

"Help me," she quivered in his grasp before giving up to the darkness of unconsciousness.

She felt her body floating in a warm bath, the scent of jasmine and roses clinging around her. A warm body rested behind her, his slight muscles shifting under her.

"Uhh, my heads pounding," she whispered, raising a hand to her head.

"The jasmines scent should take care of that," Lord Inari's voice echoed in her ear.

Her eyes shot open and she spun around to find Lord Inari watching her. His chest rippled as he grabbed her to steady her.

"But… Don't tell me we're undressed," she whispered refusing to look down.

He shook his head, a slight smile quirking the corners of his lips. She sighed, relaxing against him when she could nothing wrong with the scene as she pictured him more as her father than a want-a-be lover.

"Come, we must hurry to make our appearance at the unveiling of the temple."

He stood lightly shaking the water from his body and coming away dry. She followed drying just the same way as he did. It was as if nothing had happened when they returned to the square, the temple walls hidden behind a cloth. Lord Inari stood beside her and watched the last worker step from behind the cloth, nodding to them.

"Now is time," he whispered, lightly helping her up into the platform the temple rested on.

She turned to the crowd, stepping forward as was expected of her, "Everyone, over the last year, our temple was destroyed by out enemy. Now we have our place of holy returned. May I present to you, The Temple of Tinari-san."

The crowd burst unto cheers, throwing wine and other such celebrating items into the air with rapid succession. Kunanai smirked, having not smiled since she left her group. She stepped down into the crowd as Inari made the cloth disappear revealing the smooth stone that spanned 25 feet into the air and was 30 feet in width. Kunanai nodded when her eyes rested on the tower in the front that bore the new symbol of Jantu. It was a white fox with 2 tails, two swords black like obsidian crossed behind it though in front of the rising sun.

She began to walk back towards the palace, turning only when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned back; freezing though her face remained impassive.

"K-Ku-Kunanai, I found you," her brother, Kurama moved to hug her but she stopped him with a glare.

"Come, you attract too much attention to yourself when you stand here," she turned away once more, though knowing he followed behind her.

The palace was empty as expected since the celebration continued outside of the walls. She allowed him to enter her bedroom, shutting the door tightly behind them. She shoved past him, tossing her cloak onto her bed before turning back to him. He looked weary, his once vibrant eyes dull and sad. His body was dirty, spots darker then others. His clothes were now tore and would be unrepairable.

"He's dead, Nai, Kuronue's gone," he whispered, his voice straining against the tears.

"So I've heard. Now, what brings you here?" She questioned as if she did not care.

He stared at her as if he had never met her before, "I need you back. Our parents died to save us so we could grow together."

"No! I have my life; you have yours! Now tell me why I should care!" Kurama pulled away from her as if scared, "What, dear brother, do you not recognize me? Or have I changed too much to be your little sister?"

She loomed over him seemingly before his eyes hardened and he grabbed her, hugging her close to him, "Nai, don't do this. I love you. You're my little sister, even if you change I will love you."

Kunanai fought him, lightly punching him in the stomach, "No, let me go! I'm not a little kid, Ku!"

He finally drew back slightly but only to try and place a kiss upon her forehead.

She pulled back, "No, I don't want to feel, bear your pain as well."

"What have they done to you?" he whispered staring at the ward placed on the cloth.

"Go get cleaned, Ku. You'll be my guest tonight," she whispered turning her head away.

As he released her, the door swung open to reveal Yananu, "My, it's the Kurama. Please will you help me by explaining how you were able to use the whip of thorns?"

Kurama nodded, turning to Kunanai, "I will be back before the night is through."

She seemed unfazed by his words, watching him walk away without saying a word. The door closed behind him, giving her the privacy she needed. She jumped excitedly into the air, hurrying to her bed where she jumped, enthusiastically bouncing to the ceiling. She finally laid down, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

'He's alive!' she yelled in her mind keeping her bodily voice quiet.

It hit her suddenly like wave. Pain, her brother was experiencing such pain. She raced to the bed, grabbing her katana's from the sheaths as she jumped off the balcony once more. She landed hard, dirt flying from behind her heels as she took off running towards the temple. She slid to a halt, ripping the ward from her head. She scanned the area finding no one near but Kurama, his greenish-gold energy signature slowly fading. She rushed to him, dropping to his side.

"Ku! Open your eyes!" she yelled, her hands hesitating before grabbing the light garments of his shirt.

Blood puddle around him, coloring his clothes red as it continued to grow.

"Nai, please…remember me…forever," his breath came in heavy pants coated in pain, "We'll meet again…soon. I… love…. you."

She kissed his forehead whispering, "Don't go, brother, I need you. I love you."

He lightly touched her cheek," I will…. be. …with…you always."

She shook her head, "No, please don't leave me."

He smiled wistfully at her before his eyes closed leaving her alone. She gasped as something left her body, something leaving her soul causing a tear to slide free of its solitude. She buried her head into his shoulder, letting the tears slide free, drenching his shirt anew. He laid there, his body slowly losing its warmth as she begged every god she could to bring him back though with no reply.

A voice floated to her on the wind, "I will find his soul and tell you where he resides."

She looked up, the tears streaming down her cheeks freely. No one was there, not even a small animal to share her pain.

"Please! Noooo!"

End Flashback

She felt a cool cloth being pressed to her forehead, the herbs soothing her headache without irritating her Jagan. She recognized the smooth touches as belonging to Maki. He was skilled beyond any, his Father having spent many months teaching him how to properly heal another.

"Lady Shimora, have you awaken?" he asked quietly.

She nodded, slowly opening her eyes, "Please, Maki, call me by my true name. The name my parents gave me. Call me Kunanai."

He nodded, a calm smile spreading over his features. She also smiled back, hesitantly sitting up though grateful she felt in the room she had been taken to when she was younger and found by the first Maki.

"You know, your Father took me to this same room and nursed me back to health when I was but a Kit myself," she said, her eyes focused on another point in time.

Maki nodded remaining silent even when Han stepped up from the shadows. She looked at Kunanai and somehow could not understand how she was able to remain so calm and ready with an answer when everything had been stolen from her at some point in her life. It was hard enough to deal so young, someone still considered a teenager it was incomprehensible.

"We must leave soon. The patrols draw closer daily and we cannot endanger Maki," Han said quietly surprised Kunanai even heard her.

"Yes, we will leave tonight after night falls," Kunanai replied turning her attention to Han.

Maki remained silent knowing any protests would fall on silent ears as Kunanai only wished to kill the brothers who had wished the same fate on her. She wanted their blood on her hands.

TBC

An: Getting good. I know, I killed Kurama but you know I had to. I couldn't just let them run off and live happily ever-after. Especially after reading the beginning. I love fights…for some reason. Review please. Much Love, S. Hunter